India - Delhi - Red Fort - 2013 | Flickr Back to albums list India - Delhi - Red Fort - 2013 The Red Fort was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the centre of Delhi and houses a number of museums. In addition to accommodating the emperors and their households, it was the ceremonial and political centre of Mughal government and the setting for events critically impacting the region. The Red Fort was built as the fortified palace of Shahjahanabad, capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in 1648. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to the older Salimgarh Fort, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546. The imperial apartments consist of a row of pavilions, connected by a water channel known as the Stream of Paradise (Nahr-i-Behisht). The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity under Shah Jahan.

Although the palace was planned according to Islamic prototypes, each pavilion contains architectural elements typical of Mughal buildings, reflecting a fusion of Timurid, Persian and Hindu traditions. The Red Fort’s innovative architectural style, including its garden design, influenced later buildings and gardens in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir, Braj, Rohilkhand and elsewhere. With the Salimgarh Fort, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 as part of the Red Fort Complex. The Red Fort is an iconic symbol of India. On Independence Day, the prime minister hoists the national flag at the main gate of the fort and delivers a nationally-broadcast speech from its ramparts. NAME Its English name, "Red Fort", is a translation of the Hindustani Lal Quila (لال قلعہ, लाल क़िला) deriving from its red-sandstone walls. As the residence of the imperial family, the fort was originally known as the "Blessed Fort" (Quila-i-Mubarak). Agra Fort is also called Lal Quila.

HISTORY Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort in 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats surrounding most of the walls. Construction began in the sacred month of Muharram, on 13 May 1638. Supervised by Shah Jahan, it was completed in 1648. Unlike other Mughal forts, the Red Fort's boundary walls are asymmetrical to contain the older Salimgarh Fort. The fortress-palace was a focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad, which is present-day Old Delhi. Its planning and aesthetics represent the zenith of Mughal creativity prevailing during Shah Jahan's reign. His successor Aurangzeb added the Pearl Mosque to the emperor's private quarters, constructing barbicans in front of the two main gates to make the entrance to the palace more circuitous. The administrative and fiscal structure of the Mughals declined after Aurangzeb, and the 18th century saw a degeneration of the palace.

When Jahandar Shah took over the Red Fort in 1712, it had been without an emperor for 30 years. Within a year of beginning his rule, Shah was murdered and replaced by Farukhsiyar. To raise money, the silver ceiling of the Rang Mahal was replaced by copper during this period. Muhammad Shah, known as 'Rangila' (the Colourful) for his interest in art, took over the Red Fort in 1719. In 1739, Persian emperor Nadir Shah easily defeated the Mughal army, plundering the Red Fort including the Peacock Throne. Nadir Shah returned to Persia after three months, leaving a destroyed city and a weakened Mughal empire to Muhammad Shah. The internal weakness of the Mughal empire made the Mughals titular heads of Delhi, and a 1752 treaty made the Marathas protectors of the throne at Delhi. The 1758 Maratha conquest of Lahore and Peshawar placed them in conflict with Ahmad Shah Durrani.

In 1760, the Marathas removed and melted the silver ceiling of the Diwan-i-Khas to raise funds for the defence of Delhi from the armies of Ahmed Shah Durrani. In 1761, after the Marathas lost the third battle of Panipat, Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Durrani. Ten years later, Shah Alam ascended the throne in Delhi with Maratha support. In 1783 the Sikh Misl Karorisinghia, led by Baghel Singh Dhaliwal, conquered Delhi and the Red Fort. The Sikhs agreed to restore Shah Alam as emperor and retreat from the fort if the Mughals would build and protect seven Gurudwaras in Delhi for the Sikh gurus. During the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803, forces of British East India Company defeated Maratha forces in the Battle of Delhi; this ended Maratha rule of the city and their control of the Red Fort. After the battle, the British took over the administration of Mughal territories and installed a Resident at the Red Fort.

The last Mughal emperor to occupy the fort, Bahadur Shah II, became a symbol of the 1857 rebellion against the British in which the residents of Shahjahanbad participated. Despite its position as the seat of Mughal power and its defensive capabilities, the Red Fort was not defended during the 1857 uprising against the British. After the rebellion failed, Bahadur Shah II left the fort on 17 September and was apprehended by British forces. He returned to Red Fort as a prisoner of the British, was tried in 1858 and exiled to Rangoon on 7 October of that year. With the end of Mughal reign, the British sanctioned the systematic plunder of valuables from the fort's palaces. All furniture was removed or destroyed; the harem apartments, servants' quarters and gardens were destroyed, and a line of stone barracks built. Only the marble buildings on the east side at the imperial enclosure escaped complete destruction, but were looted and damaged. While the defensive walls and towers were relatively unharmed, more than two-thirds of the inner structures were destroyed by the British; steps were later taken by Lord Curzon to repair some damage.

1911 saw the visit of the British king and queen for the Delhi Durbar. In preparation of the visit, some buildings were restored. The Red Fort Archaeological Museum was also moved from the drum house to the Mumtaz Mahal. The INA trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, refer to the courts-martial of a number of officers of the Indian National Army. The first was held between November and December 1945 at the Red Fort. On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahore Gate. On each subsequent Independence Day, the prime minister has raised the flag and given a speech that is broadcast nationally. After Indian Independence the site experienced few changes, and the Red Fort continued to be used as a military cantonment. A significant part of the fort remained under Indian Army control until 22 December 2003, when it was given to the Archaeological Survey of India for restoration. In 2009 the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under Supreme Court directions to revitalise the fort, was announced.

As the largest monument in Delhi, is one of its most popular tourist destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year. THE FORT TODAY Every year on 15 August (the day India achieved independence from the British), the Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort and delivers a nationally-broadcast speech from its ramparts. The Red Fort, the largest monument in Delhi, is one of its most popular tourist destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year. A sound and light show describing Mughal history is a tourist attraction in the evenings. The major architectural features are in mixed condition; the extensive water features are dry. Some buildings are in fairly-good condition, with their decorative elements undisturbed; in others, the marble inlaid flowers have been removed by looters. The tea house, although not in its historical state, is a working restaurant. The mosque and hamam are closed to the public, although visitors can peer through their glass windows or marble latticework. Walkways are crumbling, and public toilets are available at the entrance and inside the park. The Lahore Gate entrance leads to a mall with jewellery and craft stores.

There are a museum of "blood paintings", depicting young 20th-century Indian martyrs and their stories, an archaeological museum and an Indian war-memorial museum. Although, Red Fort is still one of the most beautiful and well designed forts in the world. ARCHITECTURE The Red Fort has an area of 103.06 ha enclosed by 2.41 kilometres of defensive walls, punctuated by turrets and bastions and varying in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. The fort is octagonal, with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis. The marble, floral decorations and double domes in the fort's buildings exemplify later Mughal architecture. It showcases a high level of ornamentation, and the Kohinoor diamond was reportedly part of the furnishings. The fort's artwork synthesises Persian, European and Indian art, resulting in a unique Shahjahani style rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort is one of the building complexes of India encapsulating a long period of history and its arts. Even before its 1913 commemoration as a monument of national importance, efforts were made to preserve it for posterity.

The Lahori and Delhi Gates were used by the public, and the Khizrabad Gate was for the emperor. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance, leading to a domed shopping area known as the Chatta Chowk (covered bazaar). MAJOR STRUCTURES The most-important surviving structures are the walls and ramparts, the main gates, the audience halls and the imperial apartments on the eastern riverbank. LAHORI GATE The Lahori Gate is the main gate to the Red Fort, named for its orientation towards the city of Lahore. During Aurangzeb's reign, the beauty of the gate was spoiled by the addition of bastions (Like a veil drawn across the face of a beautiful woman). Every Indian Independence Day since 1947, the national flag has flown and the Prime Minister has made a speech from its ramparts. DELHI GATE The Delhi Gate is the southern public gate, in layout and appearance similar to the Lahori Gate. Two life-size stone elephants, on either side of the gate, face each other. WATER GATE A minor gate, the Water Gate is at the southeastern end of the walls.

It was formerly on the riverbank; although the river has changed course since the fort's construction, the name has remained. CHHATTA CHOWK Adjacent to the Lahori Gate is the Chhatta Chowk, where silk, jewellery and other items for the imperial household were sold during the Mughal period. The bazaar leads to an open outer court, where it crosses the large north-south street which originally divided the fort's military functions (to the west) from the palaces (to the east). The southern end of the street is the Delhi Gate. NAUBAT KHANA The vaulted arcade of the Chhatta Chowk ends in the centre of the outer court, which measured 160 m × 110 m. The side arcades and central tank were destroyed after the 1857 rebellion. In the east wall of the court stands the now-isolated Naubat Khana (also known as Nakkar Khana), the drum house. Music was played at scheduled times daily next to a large gate, where everyone except royalty was required to dismount.

DIWAN-I-AAM The inner main court to which the Nakkar Khana led was 160 m wide and 130 m deep, surrounded by guarded galleries. On the far side is the Diwan-i-Aam, the Public Audience Hall. The hall's columns and engrailed arches exhibit fine craftsmanship, and the hall was originally decorated with white chunam stucco. In the back in the raised recess the emperor gave his audience in the marble balcony (jharokha). The Diwan-i-Aam was also used for state functions. The courtyard (mardana) behind it leads to the imperial apartments. NAHR-I-BEHISHT The imperial apartments consist of a row of pavilions on a raised platform along the eastern edge of the fort, overlooking the Yamuna. The pavilions are connected by a canal, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht ("Stream of Paradise"), running through the centre of each pavilion. Water is drawn from the Yamuna via a tower, the Shahi Burj, at the northeast corner of the fort. The palace is designed to emulate paradise as described in the Quran.

In the riverbed below the imperial apartments and connected buildings was a space known as zer-jharokha ("beneath the latticework"). MUMTAZ MAHAL The two southernmost pavilions of the palace are zenanas (women's quarters), consisting of the Mumtaz Mahal and the larger Rang Mahal. The Mumtaz Mahal houses the Red Fort Archaeological Museum. RANG MAHAL The Rang Mahal housed the emperor's wives and mistresses. Its name means "Palace of Colours", since it was brightly painted and decorated with a mosaic of mirrors. The central marble pool is fed by the Nahr-i-Behisht. KHAS MAHAL The Khas Mahal was the emperor's apartment. Connected to it is the Muthamman Burj, an octagonal tower where he appeared before the people waiting on the riverbank. DIWAN-I-KHAS A gate on the north side of the Diwan-i-Aam leads to the innermost court of the palace (Jalau Khana) and the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). It is constructed of white marble, inlaid with precious stones.

The once-silver ceiling has been restored in wood. François Bernier described seeing the jewelled Peacock Throne here during the 17th century. At either end of the hall, over the two outer arches, is an inscription by Persian poet Amir Khusrow: If heaven can be on the face of the earth, It is this, it is this, it is this. HAMMAM Monuments - Agra Fort - Culture and Heritage - Know India: National Portal of India S - Z Agra Fort Near the gardens of Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-E-Am, Diwan-E-Khaas, Musamman Burj - where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan died in 1666 A.D., Jahangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal.

Agra Fort, an excellent example of Mughal architecture, is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The construction of the Agra fort was started around 1565, when the initial structures were built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and subsequently taken over by his grandson Shah Jahan, who added most of the marble creations to the fort. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone, punctuated at regular intervals by bastions. A 9m wide and 10m deep moat surrounds the outer wall. An imposing 22m high inner wall imparts a feeling of invincible defensive construction. The layout of the fort was determined by the course of the river, which in those days flowed alongside. The main axis is parallel to the river and the walls bridge out towards the city. The fort had originally four gates, two of which were later walled up. Today, visitors are allowed entry only through the Amar Singh gate. Jehangir Mahal is the first notable building that the visitor sees as he enters through Amar Singh gate.

Jehangir was Akbar's son and the heir to the Mughal throne. Jehangir Mahal was built by Akbar as the women's quarters. It is built of stone and is simply decorated on the exterior. Ornamental Persian verses have been carved on a large stone bowl, which were probably used to contain fragrant rose water. Akbar built a palace, adjacent to Jehangir Mahal, for her favourite queen Jodha Bai. Built by Shah Jahan, entirely of marble, the Khaas Mahal demonstrates distinctive Islamic-Persian features. These are well blended with a striking range of Hindu features such as chhatris. It is considered to be emperor's sleeping room or 'Aramgah'. Khaas Mahal provides the most successful example of painting on a white marble surface. On the left of the Khaas Mahal, is the Musamman Burj, built by Shah Jahan. It is a beautiful octagonal tower with an open pavillion. It boasts of its openness, elevation and cool evening breezes. This is where Shah Jahan lay on his deathbed, gazing at the Taj.

Sheesh Mahal or the Glass Palace is the finest example of decorative water engineering in the hammams. It is believed to have been the harem or the dressing room, and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors which are the best specimens of the glass-mosaic decoration in India. To the right of Sheesh Mahal is Diwan-I-Khaas, the hall of Private Audience. The marble pillars are inlaid with semi-precious stones in delightful floral patterns. Adjacent to this, is the Mammam-E-Shahi or the Shah Burj, used as the summer retreat. The Diwan-E-Am used to house the famous Peacock Throne, which was taken to the Red Fort when Shah Jahan moved his capital to Delhi. The throne alcove is of richly decorated white marble. Nagina Masjid, built by Shah Jahan, was the private mosque of the ladies of the court. Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque is the prettiest structure at Agra Fort. The building is presently closed for visitors. Near Moti Masjid is Mina Masjid, which seems to have been constructed by Shah Jahan strictly for his private use.

Source: National Portal Content Management Team Reviewed on: 19-03-2011 Note: The information presently available in this section is not exhaustive. We are in the process of adding more information to this section. You can use the ' Feedback ' Option to give your suggestions for further enhancement. Was this information useful? The Red Fort, Delhi, in Victorian Times The Red Fort, Delhi, in Victorian Times Jacqueline Banerjee , PhD, Associate Editor, the Victorian Web Victorian Web Home —> Visual Arts —> Architecture —> Pre-Colonial Architecture in South Asia —> Next ] The first image is from a page in Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Reminiscences of Imperial Dehlie (1844), courtesy of the British Library, which has very kindly allowed us to use images from its Online Gallery. Please see their site for conditions of reuse. Second image capture and caption by George P. Landow . You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the New York Public Library and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.

[Click on both images to enlarge them.] East face of the palace of the Red Fort Delhi. 1843. Ink and colours on paper. With its vast defensive walls and elaborate gateways, and its plethora of towers, domes and minarets, the Red Fort in Old Delhi looked like a typical Indian palace-fortress. Compare this illustration, for example, with the late-Victorian engraving of the Palace of Agra as seen from the Yamuna River. The Agra Fort had been built on an older site by the third Mughal emperor, Akbar, in the sixteenth century. The Red Fort in Delhi was completed in April 1648 by his grandson, Shah Jehan, when he moved his capital to Delhi, and from 1837 it was presided over by their descendant, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II. The Delhi fort was the more splendid. Under chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, it was "the climax of more than 600 years of experimentation in palace-building by Indo-Islamic architects" (Dalrymple, City of Djinns, 217). The King's Palace at Delhi.

Steel engraving. 1859. New York Public Library ID: 835821. Both Agra and Dehli forts were subject to despoilation though. The power of the Mughals waned, and despite its impressive appearance from outside, parts of the Red Fort complex in Delhi were in very poor repair by the early nineteenth century (Peck 187). By the time the engraving above was made, its appearance had changed considerably. Zafar had already surrendered to the British: he had left the fort before dawn on 16 September 1857, taking refuge from the encroaching Delhi Field Force in his magnificent ancestral mausoleum, Humayun's Tomb . He was brought back to the Red Fort later only to be tried and sentenced to transportation. He would die in Burma. The army that commandeered the fortress-palace after his original departure had quickly proceeded to ransack and plunder it, stripping away its decorations and using the area for their own purposes.

The perimeter walls were saved for their defensive potential, but much else was destroyed: an estimated eighty percent of it was razed to the ground, and "a good deal of blowing up" was still going on in the March of 1859 (qtd. in Dalrymple The Last Mughal, 459). The difference can be seen clearly by comparing the engraving of 1859 with the watercolour illustration above it, of 1843. Little more than fifteen years separate the two, but the change has been immense. The tall rectangular buildings on the far left of the engraving, with a flagstaff, must be some of the functional British army barracks and offices that were quickly built on the cleared grounds to house the troops and for administrative purposes. They were a sad replacement for what was originally there. Nevertheless, when the Red Fort became a World Heritage site in 2007, even these buildings were deemed to be of interest: there are plans to restore them, along with the rest, "removing alterations made by the Indian army" when it took over from the Raj (Red Fort, 82). Some parts are already in use for museum displays.

Of course, times have changed enormously, but this generous attitude, with its recognition of the British buildings' historic importance and usefulness, contrasts markedly with nineteenth-century British treatment of what was once a truly fabulous complex. Related Material Red Fort (Lal Qila), YogeshSarkar.com Red Fort (Lal Qila) From being the epicenter of Mughal Empire to the Headquarters of British Indian Army to being the symbol of Independent India and a World Heritage Site, few monuments from India’s glorious past still hold such a symbolic value in today’s India as Lal Qila (Red Fort). Constructed by Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D, the layout of the Red Fort was organized to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort. The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. The Red Fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in Delhi.

He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats that surround most of the wall. Construction on the Red Fort began in 1638 and was complete by 1648. However, it is believed that it is the ancient city of Lal Kot which was captured by Shah Jahan since Lal Kot literally means Red (Lal) Fort (Kot). Lal Kot was the capital city of Prithviraj Chauhan in the late 12th century. Lahor Gate is the main entrance to the Lal Quila (Red Fort): Diwan-I-Am was the place where Mughal Emperor used to conduct his darbar. It contained delicately inlaid and carved marble Jharoka or the Imperial Throne. It was here that the celebrations of the inauguration of the fort took place. This hall was originally covered over with a coat of burnished white shell lime plaster, its ceiling and columns were painted with gold.

The emperor in his throne was separated from the courtiers in the hall by a gold plated railing and a silver railing was erected on the three side of the hall. The Diwan-I-am consists of a front hall open on three sides, backed by a set of rooms faced in red sandstone. The hall is divided into 27 square bays on a system of columns which support the arches. The roof is spanned by beams of sandstone. The Marble Jharoka or the Imperial Throne of Mughal Empreor in Diwan-I-Am in Red Fort. The Diwan-I-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience was used by the Mughal Emperor for giving private audience to the courtiers and state guests. The marble piers of the hall bear excellent inlay work and painted designs. The ceiling, which was originally inlaid with silver and gold, was painted in 1911. The celebrated Peacock throne which was removed by Nadir Shah in 1739 once stood on the marble pedestal in the hall.

Photograph of the Marble Pedestal in Diwan-I-Khas (Lal Qila), where the celebrated Peacock throne which was removed by Nadir Shah in 1739, once stood. Moti Majid (Pearl Mosque) was built in Red Fort in1659 as a private mosque for the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. How to reach: Red Fort (Lal Qila) is located in Old Delhi directly opposite Chandni Chowk, one can take the metro to Chandni Chowk and then walk/take cycle rickshaw for roughly half a kilometer to reach the Red Fort. Alternatively you can also take a bus/auto/taxi. The GPS coordinates for Red Fort are 28.655891, 77.241032. India : Delhi, Red Ford | Flickr India : Delhi, Red Ford en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Fort """The Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanabad was constructed by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D. The layout of the Red Fort was organised to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort.

The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. After Independence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration to the structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the control of the Army until the year 2003. The Red Fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats that surround most of the wall.

The wall at its north-eastern corner is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh Fort, a defense built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546. Construction on the Red Fort began in 1638 and was complete by 1648. However, it is believed that it is the ancient city of Lal Kot which was captured by Shah Jahan since Lal Kot literally means Red (Lal) Fort (Kot). Lal Kot was the capital city of Prithviraj Chauhan in the late 12th century. On 11 March 1783, Sikhs entered Red Fort in Delhi and occupied the Diwan-i-Am. The city was essentially surrendered by the Mughal wazir in cahoots with his Sikh Allies. This task was carried out under the command of the Sardar Baghel Singh Dhaliwal of the Karor Singhia misl."""" Show more About Shah Jahan, Life History of Shah Jahan Home » Discover Taj Mahal » About Shah Jahan About Shah Jahan Shah Jahan, born on 5th January 1592 was the son of Jahangir and the fifth Mughal Emperor.

His reign Was over southern Asia from 1628 to 1658. His reign has been called the Golden Age of the Mughal Also most prosperous once of Indian Civilization. He was the founder of the new royal capital called Shahjahanabad which is presently known as Old Delhi. He was known to be an astute military leader and as well as a skilled and talented builder. There are Proofs of his exceptional building talent present till date in India. The most popular example is the Majestic Taj Mahal, Agra built for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. There were many other splendid Monuments built by him. Some of them are the Agra Fort (Rebuilt by Shahjahan) and Moti Masjid in Agra, the Jama Masjid and Red Fort in Delhi, Diwan-i-am and Diwan-I-khas in the Red Fort in Delhi, etc. It is also believed that he commissioned 777 gardens in Kashmir, which was his favorite residence during Summer season. His building talent has earned the title of “The Builder of the Marvels” for him. In his reign the empire became militarily strong. The noble and the army increased by four times.

He Was very careful in the financial and commercial measures which were the reason for the empire’s General stability and the administration was wholly centralized and systemized. Also during his reign India became the biggest and richest centre of arts, crafts and architecture. The famous pea sock throne Of Shahjahan was studded with rubies, sapphires and emerald which made the tail shine as of the live peacock. It is said that Shahjahan’s marriage marked the beginning of some important events in his life. He was Betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum who was the granddaughter of the Persian Noble. It is believed That Arjumand became the eternal love of his life. Her appearance and character was elite among all the Women of that time. Because of this Shahjahan gave her the title of Mumtaz Mahal that means “Jewel of the Palace”. Shahjahan’s Love, affection, attention and intimacy for Mumtaz was limitless. The love That he felt for Mumtaz was far greater than the love he felt for any of his other wives or all the love for Materialistic wealth. And also he knew that there would be nobody so special after her in his life.

So, he Was willing to squander away everything his possess only to build a memorial that would commemorate The unearthly passion that he felt for Mumtaz Mahal. He was very keen in expanding his empire but unfortunately he fell ill and was imprisoned in Agra Fort By his son Badshah Aurangzeb. He fell ill with strangury and dysentery and died in 1666. His first daughter princess Jahanara organized a state funeral followed by important nobles and notable Citizens of Agra. The officials scattered coins for the poor people. His body was washed according to Islamic rites in by a river in a sandalwood coffin and was taken to Taj Mahal and was buried next to the Body of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. 24 Hrs Helpline Support: (+91) 9910001555, 9910144283 Email your Query on: support@indianmemoirz.com Red Fort, a photo from Delhi, North | TrekEarth Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.

Photographer's Note The Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanabad was constructed by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D. The layout of the Red Fort was organized to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort. The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. After Independence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration to the structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the control of the Army till the year 2003. The Red Fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site.

He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The Red Fort stands at the eastern edge of Shahjahanabad, and gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone that defines its four sides. The wall is 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long, and varies in height from 60ft (16m) on the river side to 110 ft (33 m) towards the city. Measurements have shown that the plan was generated using a square grid of 82 m. Source: wikipedia Red-Fort-Delhi-India Red Fort, Delhi, India Red Fort, Delhi, India The Red Fort was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the centre of Delhi and houses a number of museums. In addition to accommodating the emperors and their households, it was the ceremonial and political centre of Mughal government and the setting for events critically impacting the region.

Constructed in 1648 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the palace of his fortified capital Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone and is adjacent to the older Salimgarh Fort, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546. The imperial apartments consist of a row of pavilions, connected by a water channel known as the Stream of Paradise (Nahr-i-Behisht). The fort complex is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity under Shah Jahan and although the palace was planned according to Islamic prototypes, each pavilion contains architectural elements typical of Mughal buildings that reflect a fusion of Timurid, Persian and Hindu traditions. The Red Fort’s innovative architectural style, including its garden design, influenced later buildings and gardens in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir, Braj, Rohilkhand and elsewhere. With the Salimgarh Fort, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 as part of the Red Fort Complex.

On Independence Day (15 August), the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at the main gate of the fort and delivers a nationally-broadcast speech from its ramparts. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort in 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, the same architect who constructed the Taj Mahal. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats surrounding most of the walls. Construction began in the sacred month of Muharram, on 13 May 1638. Supervised by Shah Jahan, it was completed in 1648. Unlike other Mughal forts, the Red Fort's boundary walls are asymmetrical to contain the older Salimgarh Fort. The fortress-palace was a focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad, which is present-day Old Delhi. Its planning and aesthetics represent the zenith of Mughal creativity prevailing during Shah Jahan's reign.

His successor Aurangzeb added the Pearl Mosque to the emperor's private quarters, constructing barbicans in front of the two main gates to make the entrance to the palace more circuitous. The administrative and fiscal structure of the Mughals declined after Aurangzeb, and the 18th century saw a degeneration of the palace. When Jahandar Shah took over the Red Fort in 1712, it had been without an emperor for 30 years. Within a year of beginning his rule, Shah was murdered and replaced by Farrukhsiyar. To raise money, the silver ceiling of the Rang Mahal was replaced by copper during this period. Muhammad Shah, known as 'Rangila' (the Colourful) for his interest in art, took over the Red Fort in 1719. In 1739, Persian emperor Nadir Shah easily defeated the Mughal army, plundering the Red Fort including the Peacock Throne. Nadir Shah returned to Persia after three months, leaving a destroyed city and a weakened Mughal empire to Muhammad Shah.

The internal weakness of the Mughal empire made the Mughals titular heads of Delhi, and a 1752 treaty made the Marathas protectors of the throne at Delhi. The 1758 Maratha conquest of Lahore and Peshawar placed them in conflict with Ahmad Shah Durrani. In 1760, the Marathas removed and melted the silver ceiling of the Diwan-i-Khas to raise funds for the defence of Delhi from the armies of Ahmed Shah Durrani. In 1761, after the Marathas lost the third battle of Panipat, Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Durrani. Ten years later, Shah Alam ascended the throne in Delhi with Maratha support.In 1783 the Sikh Misl Karorisinghia, led by Baghel Singh Dhaliwal, conquered Delhi and the Red Fort. The Sikhs agreed to restore Shah Alam as emperor and retreat from the fort if the Mughals would build and protect seven Gurudwaras in Delhi for the Sikh gurus.

During the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803, forces of British East India Company defeated Maratha forces in the Battle of Delhi; this ended Maratha rule of the city and their control of the Red Fort. After the battle, the British took over the administration of Mughal territories and installed a Resident at the Red Fort.[10]:11 The last Mughal emperor to occupy the fort, Bahadur Shah II, became a symbol of the 1857 rebellion against the British in which the residents of Shahjahanbad participated. Despite its position as the seat of Mughal power and its defensive capabilities, the Red Fort was not defended during the 1857 uprising against the British. After the rebellion failed, Bahadur Shah II left the fort on 17 September and was apprehended by British forces. He returned to Red Fort as a prisoner of the British, was tried in 1858 and exiled to Rangoon on 7 October of that year. With the end of Mughal reign, the British sanctioned the systematic plunder of valuables from the fort's palaces.

All furniture was removed or destroyed; the harem apartments, servants' quarters and gardens were destroyed, and a line of stone barracks built.[23] Only the marble buildings on the east side at the imperial enclosure escaped complete destruction, but were looted and damaged. While the defensive walls and towers were relatively unharmed, more than two-thirds of the inner structures were destroyed by the British; steps were later taken by Lord Curzon to repair some damage. Most of the jewels and artworks of the Red Fort were looted and stolen during Nadir Shah's invasion of 1747 and again after the failed Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British colonialists. They were eventually sold to private collectors or the British Museum, British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum. For example, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the jade wine cup of Shah Jahan and the crown of Bahadur Shah II are all currently located in London. Various requests for restitution have so far been rejected by the British government. 1911 saw the visit of the British king and queen for the Delhi Durbar. In preparation of the visit, some buildings were restored.

The Red Fort Archaeological Museum was also moved from the drum house to the Mumtaz Mahal. The INA trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, refer to the courts-martial of a number of officers of the Indian National Army. The first was held between November and December 1945 at the Red Fort. On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahore Gate. On each subsequent Independence Day, the prime minister has raised the flag and given a speech that is broadcast nationally. After Indian Independence the site experienced few changes, and the Red Fort continued to be used as a military cantonment. A significant part of the fort remained under Indian Army control until 22 December 2003, when it was given to the Archaeological Survey of India for restoration. In 2009 the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under Supreme Court directions to revitalise the fort, was announced.

More Suggestion : Agra India - Agra Agra India Wildlife Share Agra India is also known as Agraban, so named in the Mahabharat, an epic tale of Indian mythology and history . It is a city steeped in culture and history; however, through the pages of time, Agra has maintained her dignified beauty and identity as one of India’s treasured destinations, with the majestic Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri forming a trio of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where locals and visitors congregate in honor of the past and culture of India. History History The most widely accepted establishment of Agra India is dated at 1504, with the Sultan Sikander Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, when he shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra. However, this historical city lays claim to several links to periods near 1000 BC through the Mahabharat. Agra witnessed the most growth during the rule of Mughal Empire, beginning with Emperor Akbar, at which time, the city was name Akbarabad. During this era, the city entered its golden age of construction, expansion, commerce, arts, education, and beautification.

It was at this time that many of Agra’s major structures that attract today’s visitors were constructed, including Agra Fort, also called the Great Red Fort, and the Taj Mahal. At the decline of the Mughal Empire, British reign and influence dominated the area until the independence of India, and the capital was shifted back to Delhi. Taj Mahal Taj Mahal The heart of Agra, her main throb of tradition and time, is the grand structure of the Taj Mahal . This iconic structure is much more than a monument, but an expression of love and devotion, a center of spiritual adoration, and an illustration of the country’s sparkle of culture. Often regarded as one of India’s most well-loved and captivating monuments, the structure was appointed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his most beloved wife and queen, Mumtaj Mahal, a structure that is said to have put Agra on the map. Hands down, the very best time to visit the Taj Mahal is said to be late evening, when the red sun is hovering just over the horizon, lighting the entire palatial monument in an aura of enchantment.

This is by far the most visited site in the city, and there are numerous hotels near the Taj Mahal . Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri Crafted of stone in the fashion of a military camp, Fatehpur Sikri was commissioned for construction by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, where he moved his headquarters and capital. Over the largest gateway in the fort (in fact, the largest gate) in the world, Buland Darwaza, a structure built to commemorate a major victory over Gujarat, is an inscription with the words of Jesus, illustrating Akbars global view of religion; it reads, “Isa(Jesus), Son of Mary said: ‘The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build no houses upon it. He who hopes for a day, may hope for eternity; but the world endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer for the rest is unseen.’” Agra Fort Agra Fort Built several centuries before the entry of the Mughal Empire, the Agra Red Fort was commissioned for reconstruction by Emperor Akbar, where he repositioned his headquarters after a shortage of water was experienced at Fatehpur Sikri.

Throughout the rule of Mughal Emperors, many additions and edifices were completed, resulting in the strikingly magnificent citadel seen today. Among the most notable structures within the walls of Agra Fort include Khas Mahal, Jahangir’s Palace, Shish Mahal (Mirrored Palace), the Pearl Mosque, and the Musamman Burj. Golden Triangle Golden Triangle Together with Jaipur , home of the Amber Fort, and New Delhi, home of another great Red Fort , the city of Agra is part of what is called the Golden Triangle of India, a circuit of destinations that form a geographical triangle. This routeis very popular with visitors abd ranges over a broad spectrum of the country’s landscapes and cultural treasures. Related Articles

Question: Which Mughal Emperor commissioned the building of the Red Fort in Delhi when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi?
Answer: Shah Jahan